Improved car-coupling



E. J. FRAZIER.

Car Coupling.

' Patented .lune 5, 1866.

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEe EDWARD J. FRAZIER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 55,271, dated J une 5, 1866'.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. FEAZIEE, of the city of Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Car Coup- 1in gs 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view` and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Like letters refer to like parts.

' Ihe head of the coupler is made of cast-iron and in the usual forni, with a Haring mouth, which may be either double or singlethat is, one mouth may be placed above the other, as shown in the iigures, for the purpose of accommodating different heights of cars.

At the point at which the hole for the coupling-pin is usually located I forni a rectangular opening or mortise having a transverse diameter equal to the diameter of the couplingpin, its form and position being shown at A. This opcnin g extends entirely through the head from the upper to the lower side, and communicates with the throat, as shown at B.

In this opening or mortise A, I suspend, by means of a transverse pin, C, a pendulated key or wedge, D, the pin C passing through the upper forward corner in such a position that the center of gravity of the key D will cause the lower end to swing forward.

The forward edge ofthe opening A is made semicircular, and thc forward edge of the key D has a like concavity, and the key, by being placed a little back of the' front edge of the niortse, forms therewith a round hole for the coupling-pin E. v

Ihefront edge of the key D is also provided with transverse notches a, which serve to support the coupling-link F in a horizontal position, that it may the more readily and certainly be guided into the mouth of an approaching coupling-head.

When the coupling-pin E is raised to the position of the dotted lines shown at E the gravity of the key D carries the lower end forward to the position shown by the faint lines D in Fig. 2, the preponderance of gravity being sufficient to support the weight ofthe pin E in the position of E.

Now, by the approach of a car to be coupled having the coupling-link fixed as shown in the figures, as the cars come in contact the link F enters the throat B and strikes against the key D, shoving it back to a perpendicular position, and thus, by removing the temporary support of the coupling-pin, allows it to fall into its seat, and in doing so it must necessarily engage the link F, and thus secure the object sought.

NVith these devices properly adjusted there can scarcely be the possibility of a failure in coupling.

The forward or gravitating movement of the key D may be rendered more certain by placing behind the lower end an elastic gum 0r coiled spring, as indicated by the faint lines at G in Fig. 2.

The merit of my invention over others is that bythe longitudinal mortise through which the self-adjusting wedge passes, and the front part of which is iilled by the coupling-pin, I am enabled to remove the coupling-pin when bent to any degree without delay.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The grooved pendulated key, when suspended in a slotted opening, as described, in cornbination with the coupling-pin, as specified, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD J. ERAZIEE.

Witnesses:

D. P. HoLLoWAY, J oHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD. 

